Intel 80386
The first 32-bit processor in the x86 line, sampled to developers in October 1985.
Intel released pre-production samples of the 80386 to select developers in October 1985. Mass production began in June 1986. It was later renamed i386.
It was the third-generation x86 processor and the first with 32 bits. It could address up to 4 GB of memory and kept compatibility with older 16-bit programs. An on-chip memory management unit made virtual memory easier.
Why it matters
The 386 was the central processor of many workstations and high-end personal computers of its time. Intel did not discontinue it until 2007, because embedded systems kept using it.
Key facts
- Samples released in October 1985.
- Mass production began in June 1986.
- First 32-bit x86 processor.
- Could address up to 4 GB of memory.
- Discontinued in 2007.
Sources
- Wikipedia, "Intel 80386", en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_80386, accessed October 14, 2026.
- Wikipedia, "Intel", en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel, background reading, accessed October 14, 2026.